Munich-based Helsing will produce AI-powered miniature unmanned submarines in the UK for the persistent surveillance of critical underwater infrastructure.
The underwater drones will be produced at a Plymouth plant from later this year.
Initial production is expected in the hundreds, scaling up to thousands.
The development is part of the 350-million-pound ($476 million) Trinity House private investment the company promised in December 2024.
Trinity House is a bilateral agreement between the UK and Germany to co-develop critical defense capabilities.
“Helsing supports the Government’s ambitions for our defences and economy. We are investing in both by opening the first UK Resilience Factory and accelerating our £350m commitment,” UK Managing Director at Helsing, Ned Baker, said.
“We have confidence in the Government’s commitment to new technological solutions for defence. Together, we can attract further private investment, equipping our Armed Forces and growing the economy.”
Underwater Gliders
The Plymouth facility will produce SG-1 Fathom autonomous underwater gliders, which were unveiled in May.
The surveillance system features the Lura software platform, which is capable of classifying and localizing acoustic signatures of naval platforms much quieter than other AI models.
The SG-1 can operate at a depth of 1,000 meters (3,281 feet), has an endurance of three months, and a top speed of 3 knots (5.5 kilometers/3.5 miles per hour).
A single operator can remotely task and monitor hundreds of gliders for a range of missions, such as autonomous detection, classification, and reporting of underwater threats in real time.
Unlocking Economic Potential of Defense
The investment will create specialist high-value jobs in the country’s southwest and elsewhere and help Helsing double the size of its UK business.
“A new era of threats demands a new era for defence and security. That’s why we took the decision to prioritise defence spending, increasing it to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027,” UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said.
“Through this, and the work of the Defence and Economic Growth Taskforce — including Helsing’s welcome announcement of the first UK Resilience Factory — we are securing our nation and unleashing the economic potential in the Defence sector, benefitting working people across the UK through our Plan for Change.”
